46:1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops;
their idols are on the animals,
and on the livestock:
the things that you carried about are made a load,
a burden to the weary animal.

46:2 They stoop, they bow down together;
they could not deliver the burden,
but themselves are gone into captivity.

God saves his people to the end.

46:3 “Listen to me, house of Jacob,
and all the remnant of the house of Israel,
that have been borne by me from their birth,
that have been carried from the womb;

46:4 and even to old age I am he,
and even to gray hairs will I carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
yes, I will carry, and will deliver.

Idols are not comparable to God for power,

46:5 “To whom will you liken me,
and make me equal, and compare me,
that we may be like?

46:6 Some pour out gold from the bag,
and weigh silver in the balance.
They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god.
They fall down — yes, they worship.

46:7 They bear it on the shoulder,
they carry it, and set it in its place,
and it stands, from its place it shall not move:
yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer,
nor save him out of his trouble.

46:8 “Remember this,
and show yourselves men;
bring it again to mind, you transgressors.

46:9 Remember the former things of old:
for I am God, and there is none else;
I am God, and there is none like me;

46:10 declaring the end from the beginning,
and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying,
My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;

46:11 calling a ravenous bird from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country;
yes, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass;
I have purposed, I will also do it.

or present salvation.

46:12 Listen to me, you stout-hearted, who are far from righteousness:

46:13 I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off,
and my salvation shall not wait;
and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.